The New York Times thinks that high fuel prices are not all bad. Not because it will finally motivate us away from Middle East oil (which would be good), but because it will finally save us from the destroying the Earth. (Hat Tip: Newsbusters)

There is much to said about the economics of global warming. There is much to be said about the ability of wealth to enable us to protect the environment. A more immediate consequence is where will the money come from.

Raising fuel prices won’t mean that we all just work a little harder to make up the difference. The consequence will be money shifted in our budgets…and not just our personal budgets. Fire Departments and ambulances must shift money from life saving equipment to the fire truck’s gas tank. School boards will fund the buses instead of computer labs.  Police budget will be stretched by gas guzzling patrol cars.  The maintenance of your city parks will increase leaving less money for capital improvements. I think the NY Times would suggest that all of these services are important.

The price of fuel will effect almost every aspect of our daily lives. Money diverted to fuel takes could surely be better spent. The NY Times finding a silver lining in rising fuel prices reminds me of the argument that rising seas will mean my house is closer to the beach. Of course, the second argument is a joke…but then again…so is the NY Times.

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